Sir Roger Moore – A journalist remembers

Sunday

Jun 18, 2017 at 6:16 PMJun 18, 2017 at 6:16 PM

By Aliana Brodmann E. von Richthofen, Daily News Correspondent

In April 1968 I interviewed Roger Moore in London as a young journalist for one of the local daily papers in Cologne/Germany where I lived. That encounter left me with a rare glimpse into the mind and heart of this remarkable man, best known then as the impersonator of the suave and sexy Simon Templar, also known as The Saint, a modern day Robin Hood who valiantly defended the defenseless against greedy villains while driving fast cars (usually his Volvo P1800) and helping beautiful damsels in distress escape inescapable situations along the way.

It was my first assignment abroad and, hailing from a traditional Jewish home with a very strict father, had my accommodations in London arranged by him in a hostel for Jewish Girls in Whitechapel, a long trek to Elstree Studios on a rainy day. When I arrived there for my interview Roger Moore was already waiting and let it be known in his signature expression of coolest patience. I noticed that he was also every bit as ravishingly gorgeous and perfectly attired as the superhero he so exquisitely impersonated. So much so, that they almost seemed to be one and the same. He was clearly amused at this noticeably smitten journalist’s attempts to quickly set up her notepad and tape recorder. At the same time he remained so gentlemanly contained that I could channel my confidence to successfully navigate this interview, my first also with a major international celebrity.

I followed my questionnaire and asked the routine questions, which he answered in his seemingly self-aggrandizing but actually self-critical way: What kind of roles he would like to play, which he answered with: “The best paid ones.” The subjects he liked as a student? - Of course: “All of them because I was brilliant at all of them.” All the while taking in my reactions with his very own wry smirk. I kept copious notes, wondering at first whether he really wanted me to transmit these answers.

It was only when I had gone beyond asking him about actors that had been his role models (Burt Lancaster and Gary Grant) and actresses he admired (Ingrid Bergman and Audrey Hepburn) and had arrived at what he disliked that he became real to me as a person and at the same time so much like the superheroes, Simon Templar and later 007, which he brought to life, as he became fully engaged and visibly incensed: "Intolerants,” he said “bigots, racists,” I really hate people that are destructive to humanity.”

I don’t know whether it was because of the Star of David that I wore on a chain around my neck as a symbol for loss, tragedy but also redemption that he shared this personal trait but I am sure it was genuine. And the things he valued?: “People who aren’t corruptible. Who fight for the good of all.” Again, the man and the heroes he played on screen were one and the same.

Types of women? - I had to ask: "Ones,” he said thoughtfully “that are strong and good like the best among Israeli women.” I am thinking he would have liked Gal Gadot, the newest Wonder Woman impersonator. Roger Moore fulfilled his personal devotion to serving humanity by becoming a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth for this humanitarian work in 2003.

I had no less trouble with my no-name camera that wouldn’t flash than I had had to simultaneously keep my notes in order and my tape recorder running as he remained in place patiently humoring my many attempts at photographing him. He even obliged with a photograph which I finally requested in order to be on the safe side for having a decent picture to go with the article.

“By the way,” he said as I was finishing the packing up, “where are you staying?” It was the first time he had asked me a question and it had come so sudden and unexpected that I had no time to think of a clever distraction to save my professional façade and just blurted out: "A hostel for Jewish Girls in Whitechapel.” His response was the quintessential Roger Moore/Simon Templar/007: slightly cocked head and frozen gaze with one raised eyebrow. I don’t know whether that indicated surprise, amusement or something else altogether at that moment. I will never know why he asked me where I was staying. Had it simply been to show a polite expression of interest in the accommodations of this journalist or would he have actually looked me up to continue our conversation, if not for the thought of a Jewish girls’ hostel, daunting even to this amazing superhero who (otherwise) feared nothing?

What I do know is that I miss him terribly. I kept his picture with his personal dedication ("To Aliana with my best wishes, Roger Moore") to this day. Although we never again met in person, the world was a brighter place with him in it and seems to be so much less without Sir Roger Moore.

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